Frequency Face-Off: John Mayer — Battle Studies

This is the start of a new feature here at Frequency Magazine.  This album was reviewed by two authors with different opinions.  The goal of Frequency Face-Off is to offer two takes on certain albums so readers have a wider range of opinions from different, but equally well-argued perspectives.

Fuschiag’s Review

When I heard the excited whisperings among the masses that a new John Mayer record was coming out, I struggled to remember who this guy actually was – and then it dawned; he was the one who’d been all over the radio with “Your Body’s a Wonderland.”  He certainly had fans, so I thought why not indoctrinate myself with what seemed like his most highly anticipated release yet?

Battle Studies’ tracklisting entails a series of military references and metaphors in an endeavour to encapsulate his apparent recent heartbreak.  Unfortunately, the opening track, “Heartbreak Warfare,” fails to set the stage for not only a bold emotional statement, but an equally eagerly awaited album.  The track is overfilled with metaphors of combat for a broken heart, but the lyrics seem forced and come off as clichéd.

The subsequent tracks fall dangerously close to that adult contemporary, easy listening drivel inhabitant of elevators and drugstores, overpowering any sense of emotional authenticity with an overzealous sense of self-pity, strained attempts at depth and irritating self-righteousness.   This is a shame – had it not been so forced, his real musical ability (as demonstrated in past recordings and devoted fan base) could have really shone through.

The album continues through funk and more (not-so-) easy listening, attempting to fashion a metaphor for broken love with slick production values which ultimately tarnish what one can only take as an uncharacteristically somber effort.  “Edge of Desire” is the only track that shows what could have been, as Mayer hints at real sentiment, whispering “I’m scared you’ll forget about me” – almost evoking a sense of compassion.  Almost – were the emotion not stifled with strained attempts at allegory, which smother even the slightest feelings of genuine empathy.

Sorry, Mayer fans – I’d honestly hoped with this album I’d discover what I’d been missing, having heard all sorts of good things about Continuum.  But this venture into simile was ultimately too dreary, too forced, and unfortunately, entirely forgettable.

But here’s to hoping he’s feeling better soon.

Author’s Rating:  2.0/5.0 stars
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Sarah Tollie’s Review

John Mayer has a few tricks up his über-tattooed sleeve. With his fourth studio effort, Battle Studies, Mayer trades the Jennifers and Jessicas for eleven tracks that range from the subtle to the surprising, sarcastic to startling—but most of all, remind us of the talent behind the tabloids.

You might remember the Room for Squares-era Mayer: the Berklee-bred, Georgia-going boy filled with youthful epiphanies over the ever-illusory “real world.” It’s “just a lie you’ve got to rise above,” he insists in “No Such Thing.” For many, that Mayer is a mere memory.

“Heartbreak Warfare,” the album’s opening track, seemingly stretches that distance. But buried beneath the mask of metaphor—”clouds of sulfur in the air/bombs are falling everywhere”—is a surprisingly honest and—dare we say it—vulnerable Mayer.  He dares, “Watch my face as I pretend to feel no pain.” The guide-to-one-night-stands “Assassin” and Eagles-esque “War of My Life” further his more than quarter-life crisis.

But every battle has its valleys—and its peaks.

Mayer channels fellow guitar-great Jonny Lang in “Crossroads,” a two-minute, thirty-second slice of gospel and blues. Simply put, it’s Mayer at his best:  No critics, no cameras, Mayer’s signature Stratocaster speaks for itself. “Perfectly Lonely” further cements that “me-and-my-guitar” sentiment, while “Who Says” and “Do You Know Me” challenge anyone that dares to challenge Mayer.

“Half of My Heart” might be Mayer’s one misstep. The track mixes the radio-friendly with the offbeat—”I was born in the arms of imaginary friends”—and odder still, a random, thirty-second Taylor Swift appearance. The closer, “Friends, Lovers or Nothing,” quickly quells any overexposure, ending the disc in his typically witty fashion.

Battle Studies makes for Mayer’s most cohesive effort yet, proving to critics, fans, and Mayer alike that the only lie he’s got to rise above is, in fact, himself.

Battles Studies is out now on Columbia Records.

Author’s Rating: 4.5 /5 stars

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Overall

[starreview]

Comment by StephenK January 29, 2010 View profile »

LOVE the disparity in the opinions, it completely works as a review feature because it leads to more of an incentive to listen to the music and form one’s own opinion.